It had been two weeks and Harper hadn’t called Michael. Michael stopped by the mansion to see Emily. She was on her way out. This would be the last day and she had to take her finals.
“I can’t talk now, Michael. I have to go. You know how it is. Can’t be late for my finals.”
“I’ll drop you off at school. You can take the limo. After all you are his wife. He made arrangement to take care of your father.” She stopped and turned and looked at Michael.
“I know, but I don’t feel comfortable taking his money. I didn’t say anything to the staff. Didn’t want to confuse them because soon I won’t be Mrs. Samsa.” Michael opened the door for Emily.
“I already told them. They will wonder why you are still staying in that small room when you should be in his bedroom. I want you to go there. Bring your things. If just for appearances.”
He entered the driver’s side and started his motor and took off. California Dreaming by the Mama’s and Papa’s played on the radio.
“When is he getting the annulment? I can’t afford it,” she said glancing at the mansions doting the hilly landscape as she watched the Golden Gate Bridge in a distance and the clanging of the cable cars.
“I don’t know. I don’t think he wants it. And I don’t think you do either. Give him another chance. You don’t know why he’s the way he is. If you did, then you would go to him.”
“What good would that do to go to him? He appeared to be inflexible about the virgin thing. What could be more embarrassing than to have a man tell you he didn’t want you because you were a...? She choked. “Well you know what he said. I don’t feel like repeating it.”
The car came to a stop and Emily hopped out after waving and thanking Michael. When she finished her final, she exhaled. Walking out of class she glanced around to see Fiona leaving her class. She tried to walk fast to keep Fiona from catching up with her.
“Emily. Wait.” Emily slowed and Fiona had to rush to catch her in the hall. They walked together and stood on the outside. “I guess your limo will be coming soon.”
“No. It won’t,” Emily said her eyes looking down, her voice cracked.
Fiona walked around to face Emily. “What happened? When I left you, you were smiling and acting as if marrying that gorgeous man was the best thing that ever happened to you in your life.”
“It was for a second. And then it fell apart. My fairy tale life was just that something you find in a fairy tale. It’s not real.” Fiona listened quietly. “He didn’t want me. He said he didn’t want a virgin.”
“Wow. What a bummer. Your prince charming isn’t a prince after all. What is this world coming to?”
“He tried to make up for it but I couldn’t swallow my pride. I love him but how could he love me if he can’t accept me. I’ve never been worldly. I don’t know what to do. I never had a mother to teach me things only a father who I had to take care of all my life.”
“Let’s go and have a beer. You’ll get over him.” Fiona put her hand on Emily’s shoulder. “I know what you need. You need someone to make you laugh. Just wait until I tell you what Thomas did when we left you and Mr. Samsa. If that isn’t good for a laugh then nothing is.”
When they reached the bar they sat at a table. Fiona made a gesture to the bar maid and she brought them two beers. She held out her hand. “Do you see something that wasn’t there?”
“No. I wasn’t paying attention to anything.”
“I have an engagement ring. Thomas asked me to marry him,” Fiona said.
“But you just met him.”
“I know but we had been seeing each other here for years. And you just met Harper,” Fiona said glibly with a closed smile.
“But I knew him the kind of man he was. Elisabeth would talk about him all the time.”
“Thomas gave me a ring. Where’s yours?” She threw her hand up so Emily could see it. Emily glanced down and she looked up at Fiona. Her eyes teared. “I’m sorry Emily. I do that all the time. I find a friend and I say things I don’t mean.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be ok,” Emily said turning to wipe a tear away.
“No you won’t. You love that man and he should have given you a ring.”
“We’re getting an annulment and I don’t need one.”
“It’s not that you don’t need one, you should have one. With a man that rich, you can get the biggest diamond and then you don’t have to worry. Did you consummate...”
“No we didn’t.” Emily’s eyes looked down and then up to face Fiona. “I didn’t marry him to get a ring or anything. I wanted to be with him. There is something so warm and yet so cold about him. I wanted to bring out that warmth in him. I need him and he needs me. We are two lost souls. I can feel his goodness. We won’t be the same without each other.”
“If you feel that way about him then tell him.”
“It may be too late. Some of this might be my fault,” Emily said with a sadness to her voice.
“It’s never too late. I had a good feeling about you and Harper. Do you want another woman to have him? If he is a good man then fight for him. Go wherever you need and make him see that you and he belong together. He’s still married to you. Make it hard for him to walk away. Make it hard for anyone to take him.” She wondered if she could do that considering how she was the one who refused to sleep with him. It was her pride that had been hurt. How could she explain that to anyone?
When Fiona and Emily parted, Emily had a new outlook on life. As Emily was entering the side of the mansion, Elisabeth was walking up the steps to the door.